SpotOn – SMS Based Ad Network
Isn’t it surprising that most of the mobile ad networks in India are targeting WAP inventory, while 50% of Indians are still on
ULCH (and hence SMS is the only app that runs on thse mobiles).
While there are publishers like MyToday/SMSGupshup who send out more than a million SMS per day, monetization is still a huge challenge, given the low CPM rates on SMS.
SpotOn, a blind network (claims to be India’s first ad network on SMS) attempts to increase the RoI of publisher’s remnant inventory by offering :
- Category, Contextual targeting
- Location based targeting
- Demographic targeting
- Behavioural targeting etc [looks like, many of these features will be implemented later]
SpotOn has been incubated by ValueFirst (which has received investment from Rajesh Jain’s Netcore) and recently launched SMSMeOn, a mobile identity service.
About the author - Ashish Sinha is a Startup Mentor/Product Strategy Coach, and the founder/chief editor of pluGGd.in.
He has launched/managed couple of products (consumer as well as enterprise) in US and India, and now consults with startups/small businesses on their product/media strategy. He can be reached at: ashish (at) pluGGd.in [+91 98452 06443]
Spoton link seems to be wrong yaar. Its a .in domain..!!
Interesting if they really focus on location based advertisement, this indeed is a huge gap for LBS apps to flourish in India.
However, SMSMeOn is an innovative thought, although will it actually fly in India? We’ll need o wait and see.
There is little value proposition to the consumer. The consumer already has a mobile identity. Why would someone pay Rs. 3 to ping him on shortcode when he can ping him on his mobile number?